Bakersfield March Meet - Bakersfield's Best

If you want to see old farm trucks, go to an old farm town. Bakersfield, at the southern end of California's San Joaquin Valley, is our personal favorite. Not just for the trucks, but for the vintage drag racing at Famoso Raceway, 20 miles north of town.

2/27The far end of the Famoso Raceway grandstands is a great place to watch the racing or see some homebuilt rides, like this pair.

The March Meet has been an annual tradition here since 1959 when it was called the U.S. Fuel and Gas Championships. The biggest names in the sport all raced here in drag racing's golden days of the '60s. Ten years into the 21st century, this new-historic event and less-than-state-of-the-art strip still have the feel of the old days, especially when front-engined Top Fuel dragsters, Gassers, Altereds, and nostalgia Funny Cars pull up to the starting line.

In addition to the racing, the March Meet always features a low-key car show in the Grove area located behind the grandstands. Beyond that is the swap meet. If it's new stuff you're after, the huge vendors midway has it all-from parts and apparel to automobilia. And the pits and staging lanes is where you'll find the between-rounds action. We hit it all, on the lookout for custom classic trucks. And we found lots of 'em: great drag trucks, cool push trucks and tow vehicles, a couple of interesting haulers, and a bunch of local homebuilt street trucks, including some old farm trucks. Take a look.

3/27The "Grove" is the shady area behind the grandstands where the show vehicles meet. This scalloped ground-scraper '53 Chevy 1/2-ton is owned by Jack Rudy, and runs a 261ci six-cylinder engine and a five-speed.